This is a NEW section to reflect the increase in the number of Talks, Lectures and Webinars about Botanical art
now being delivered on a regular basis
​- in person and ONLINE 
Below I'm listing the main sources of talks and lectures. Those that remain available online will also be listed.

Note that activities which are more akin to online workshops are covered in Online Botanical Art Instruction

ONLINE TALKS AND LECTURES Organised by:
UK
  • ​Julia Trickey Talks 
  • The Shirley Sherwood Collection
  • Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library Talks
  • ​Linnean Society - Talks and Tours​
USA
  • ASBA Annual Conference - available to members
  • University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Find out more about these online talks, lectures and demos below.
IN PERSON TALKS, LECTURES & TOURS
  • ​Kew Gardens "Ask the Expert"
  • Kew Gardens Tours of Herbarium / Library
  • Lectures in The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew Gardens
  • Lectures at the Lindley Library, RHS HQ, London

Most talks and lectures in person are suspended at the moment. I expect they will resume once we're nearer to normal again.

It's possible that more of these will be videoed in future for online delivery also.
An effective and engaging webinar starts with three roles: an organizer, at least one presenter and attendees.
Picture
Lucy T Smith giving a free lecture on the Worldwide Botanical Art Day in 2018 - in The Shirley Sherwood Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

ONLINE TALKS AND LECTURES
​

The great advantage of talks and lectures being delivered online is that they are accessible by anybody anywhere in the world. 

I've been in the audience of a number now and they seem to be  universally liked by those watching judging by the comments online and at the end. Viewing is of course the same for everyone - so no need to make sure you have got a good view relative to the speaker!
Features of such talks and lectures are as follows:
  • Like educational courses, access is often dependent on the payment of a fee - usually via Paypal or similar secure payment facility
  • The quality of reception of the online delivery assumes you have equipment and broadband facilities and access to Zoom and/or Facebook.
  • Paid Talks (via Zoom) are often recorded and can then be viewed for a limited period (usually 48 hours) after the event - so if you have another commitment or are asleep when it's happening you can catch up the next day

Julia Trickey Talks (monthly)
​

Julia Trickey has been a complete star during 2021 - providing an online talk every month via Zoom - from top speakers on botanical art from around the world. ​

​I have no doubt she will be continuing post Pandemic as these have proved to be VERY popular.
These talks were set up at the beginning of 2021 after a chance conversation between Julia and a fellow botanical art tutor, who had been hit financially by the Pandemic. The aim was to
  • support fellow professional artists,
  • whilst bringing their work and passion for botanical art to a wider audience.
​Botanical Art Talks | Julia Trickey
What you get:
  • Live presentations from experienced botanical artists. 
  • Unique insights into working practices, recent projects or favourite techniques. 
  • Tips and techniques for your own botanical art projects.
  • Meet artists from all over the world in the comfort of your own home.
  • Interactive Q&A opportunity.​

​View AFTER the event: 
  • Talks are recorded
  • Access online / watch more than once for a further 48 hours - making them accessible whatever your time zone!​​
i.e. all you miss if you can't make the date and time is the chance t ask a question.
TALKS IN 2022
Details confirmed to date include:
PREVIOUS TALKS
People who have given previous talks are:
  • Julia Trickey,
  • Laura Silburn,
  • Deborah Lambkin,
  • Lizzie Harper,
  • Lucy Smith,
  • Martin Allen,
  • Helen Allen,
  • Mary Dillon,
  • Sarah Morrish,
  • Carrie Di Costanzo,
  • Lara Call Gastinger,
  • Ann Swan,
  • Katherine Tyrrell,
  • Gill Condy,
  • Shevaun Doherty,
  • Sarah Gould,
  • ​Mariella Baldwin
Technical data:
  • Sessions: typically 50-60 minutes - comprising a talk with images / demonstrations and Q&A session at the end
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Dates and Times: generally two per month with 8pm / 3pm EST start for UK speakers or 7pm / 2pm EST for USA speakers​​
NOTE that:
  • you must keep your unique link safe - and use just before the talk begins
  • technical support is not available during the talk
  • fee is only refundable if the talk is cancelled
  • only YOU can access the talk​
You MUST:
  • book in advance 
  • pay a fee (£12 per talk) via Paypal (you can use a credit card)
  • ​25% discount (i.e. reduced to £9) , if you book more than a month in advance
  • have good internet bandwidth (eg if you watch TV via your broadband you'll be OK)
  • a basic understanding of Zoom. (Your video and audio will automatically be turned off so you can't be seen or heard during the talk). 
​RECENT SPEAKERS IN 2021
  • 14 January - Julia Trickey
  • 28 January - Laura Silburn
  • 4 February - Deborah Lambkin
  • 18 February - Lizzie Harper
  • 4 March - Lucy Smith
  • ​18 March - Martin Allen
  • 1 April: Helen Allen The Great Reveal: Hidden Numbers and Geometry in Flowers
  • 15 April: Mary Dillon Roses... capturing a moment in watercolour
  • ​29 April: Sarah Morrish  Strandline and marine discoveries in pen and ink
  • ​20 May: Carrie di Costanza  Egg Tempera: Material & Techniques
  • 27 May: Lara Call Gastinger  How to start and maintain a perpetual journal
  • 10 June: Ann Swan  Creative Colour Mixing with Coloured Pencils
  • 24 June: Katherine Tyrrell  Business Savvy Botanical Art 
  • 22 July: Gillian Condy  Madagascar: In Search of Baobabs
  • ​16 September: Shevaun Doherty Pollinators in Botanical Art​
  • 21 October: Sarah Gould - Painting on Vellum
  • 18 November: Mariella Baldwin - Far Fetched Botanicals - Painting plants featured in fairy tales.
In addition, during Autumn 2021, a portion of Julia's income from these talks (after expenses and speaker fees) will be donated to local projects, including Oasis Pantry.
‘Oasis Pantries are part of a growing network of community pantries opening in Bath, supplying low cost, high quality food each week to local residents. We’re partnering with Fareshare Southwest, who match up surplus, in-date food with individuals and families on low incomes. In its first year, with the help of 31 volunteers and 2 staff members, we have redistributed 10 tonnes of food to over 75 members, saving them an incredible £18,573

Shirley Sherwood Talks
​

Shirley Sherwood had been delivering online videos of two types from the The Shirley Sherwood Collection's Facebook Page.

These are COMPLETELY FREE and comprise:
  • Botanical Me - Artists in the Shirley Sherwood Collection talking about their work
  • Short talks by Shirley Sherwood about specific paintings in her collection. This is a fabulous resource because you learn about both artist and the plant in the painting.
  • This is the link to the Videos Page where you can see all the videos to date

VIEW the Botanical Me Artists Videos to date - which include:

Talks by the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
​

Talks about the RHS's Permanent Art Collection at the Lindley Library are usually arranged by the RHS Art Curator Charlotte Brooks and take place in the Library.

During the Pandemic Talks have moved online and are FREE. 
  • All talks are FREE to members and non members of the RHS
  • they can be accessed by anybody anywhere in the world.
  • Delivery is via Zoom
  • Registration is essential due to limit on numbers
PAST ONLINE TALKS
No talks scheduled at present.

Talks and Tours at the Linnean Society
​

Although focused more on Botany and Natural History rather than botanical art, the Linnean Society also has talks and tours related to botanical art and illustration and they have some stunning work in their collection.

They have recently converted events to online - which makes them accessible to anybody, anywhere in the world.
Payment is very reasonable and events are organised via Eventbrite.
The Virtual Treasures Tour - a a virtual tour of the Linnean Society's home at Burlington House and collections - happens on the last Friday of each month
See Linnean Society Upcoming Events for details
  • This event costs £5 each session and is open to all.
  • Registration is essential, and will close 24 hours before the event is set to begin.​

American Society of Botanical Artists - Virtual Conference
​

ASBA are repeating their very successful Online Annual Conference in 2020 as an Online Event again in 2021.

This is due to the continued uncertainty about the pandemic and travel restrictions / social distancing etc.

The same model is being adopted - with suite of "Master Demonstrations" of three sessions on broadly related topics following the model of
  • talking about a topic
  • presentation of slideshow and/or demonstration (live or videoed in advance)
  • live Q&A at end
Plus other social events and ancillary event
26th Annual Conference - Online in October
Virtual, Online
Details of Speakers and subjects are now available
Date of 2021 Online Annual Conference: (probably) October 14-16, 2021 (i.e. original conference dates)

Features of Online Delivery are:
  • 7 Master Demo “Blocks” (am or pm): $75/c.£55 per block each block includes:
    • three one-hour demonstrations
    • by three different master artists
  • Sessions: typically 50-60 minutes with Q&A at end
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Booking: Essential
  • Cost:
    • ​basic registration fee for members
    • optional booking for a morning or afternoon Master Demo Block of three talks

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Various Talks and Lectures and other events have been organised by the Education department using Zoom.
Zoom Talks and Lectures
  • History of Botanical Art - Catherine Watters
  • Maria Sibylla Merian, A Passion for Plants & Insects
    Fri, June 4 | 11am – 12 pm

"IN PERSON" TALKS, LECTURES AND TOURS
​

'Ask an Expert' / Tours - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
​

The Shirley Sherwood Gallery has been the venue for "Ask an Expert" sessions by various botanical illustrators who do work for the botanists working for Kew Gardens.

The purpose of these sessions are to allow emerging/improving botanical artists to
  • view how a professional botanical artist works - and see examples of their completed work
  • ask technical questions about aspects of botanical art and illustration - and 
  • receive practical tips and advice about developing their own work.
​​
To date these have included:
  • 2019 -  Christabel King and Rachel Pedder Smith​
  • 2020 - Lucy Smith, Hazel Wilks and Deborah Lambkin

​I'm sure these talks will be reinstated once the pandemic is over.
Behind the Scenes Tours of the Herbarium and Library are also arranged from time to time:
  • via the Open House weekend (early Autumn)
  • in liaison with specific exhibitions and arrangement with Kew Departments / key individuals
  • access for talks/tours open to Kew Members only are often advertised to Kew Members in the Magazine
Picture
Lucy T Smith providing a presentation to the Florilegium Society of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Lectures at the Lindley Library, Royal Horticultural Society
​

The RHS Lindley Library usually has regular lectures and talks related to artists or artwork in the permanent collection of the Royal Horticultural Society.
​No 'in person' talks are being held at present due to the Pandemic.

Such talks are advertised on the Website - generally under Events or the Lindley Library Page.

Talks are  very often related to an exhibition in the Lindley Library or a topical subject.

Booking is required due to limited space.
Picture
Herbals held in the secure section of the RHS Lindley Library Collection
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